Habitat for Humanity wins Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award
January 28, 2015
GREENVILLE, SC – The Greenville Chamber of Commerce honored Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County with the 2015 The Max Heller Neighborhood Improvement Award Tuesday night.
The annual award honors an individual or non-profit organization for their achievement in improving a neighborhood or community through physical appearance of the area, human development of the residents, or other efforts that improve quality of life.
Habitat received the award for its development, Abigail Springs. The Abigail Springs neighborhood, which is located in the Taylors community, is the first mixed income development in Greenville County to focus on home ownership. Habitat purchased the parcel from a developer during the real estate recession in 2008 and after completion of infrastructure work, began construction of homes for families with low income (below 60 percent of AMI) in 2010. To date, 23 homes have been built; five additional homes will be built in 2015.
Abigail Springs residents are first-time homeowners, who have been prepared for sustainable homeownership by Habitat Greenville. The immaculate condition of their homes is evidence of pride of ownership, and the descriptions of their lives now, “peace and safety,” “an opportunity to thrive,” and “the greatest accomplishment of my life” attest to their quality of life. In building Abigail Springs, Habitat accepted the challenge of utilizing an under-maintained, near-abandoned property to create an attractive, family-friendly neighborhood providing safe, stable and affordable housing for 32 families.
“This award means a lot to the Habitat team,” said Monroe Free, President/CEO of Habitat Greenville. “We are very proud of Abigail Springs and of what the community means to the Habitat homeowners who reside there.”
About Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County
Habitat for Humanity of Greenville County was chartered in 1985 and has provided home ownership to 323 low-income families. Through affordable home construction, Habitat for Humanity of Greenville strives to eliminate poverty housing and the social and economic problems it causes.
